Charles m



(No Model.)

C. MR WOOLCOTT & A. E. WILMOT.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER AND ALARM. No. 445,306. Patented Jan. 27,1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

CI'IARLES M. \VOOLOOT" AND ALBERT E. VILMOT, OE NE\V YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS TO THOMAS TV. ROBERTSON AND CHARLES E. ONGLEY,

BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLER AND ALARM.

S?ECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,306, dated January 27, 1891.

Application led October 16, 1890. Serial No. 368,320. (No model.)

To LH 'nf/1.0m t may concern:

Be it know n that we, CHARLES M. lVOOLCOTT and ALBERTE. Wnntoneitizens ofthe United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful improvement in Circuit.- Controllers and Alarms, of which the following is a speci tication.

The object of our invention is to provide means for changing the condition of an electrical circuit by a circuit-controller which is operated by the effect of moisture for signaling and other purposes; and the invention consists in a circuit-controller ot conducting material which is dissolved or softened by water.

The invention consists, further, in the combination of a circuit-controller which is dissolved or softened by water with an automatic Alire-extinguisher, sprinkler, or analogous device where there is constant danger of leakage and where it is important that the fact et' the leak should be known at once.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the invention, the ligure shows a sprinklersuch as used in the Ongleytire-extinguishing system, which is adapted to give way at a predetermined temperature and flood the space near it with water, and our improved circuitcontroller supported thereby. The construction andoperation of sprinklers of this character are well known and need not be specifically described. it sometimes happens that these and other similar sprinklers leak when there has not been a sufficiently high temperature to cause them to operate. Said leak may be due to an accidental blow or strain or to corrosion of the metal from which they are made, and it is very desirable to know ot' such leak immediately, so that it can be remedied and the flooding of the buildingavoided. Perfect means are provided by our improvement for accomplishing this desired result.

In the drawing, l is a sprinkler, connected to a water-pipe 2 in the ordinary way and forming an outlet from the water-pipe.

3 e are two condnoting-springs, supported in anysuitable way and terminating adjacent to the bottom of the sprinkler. As shown, spring 3 is mounted on an insulating-block 5, and spring i is mounted directly on the body of the sprinkler, although this spring may also be insulated from the sprinkler; but this is not usually necessary, owing to the electrical resistance offered by the joints between the sprinkler and water-[ape and between the sections of pipe. The wire G is connected to spring 3 and wire 7, which leads to a bell 8 or other electrical apparatus to be operated, and a batteryis connected to spring si. The springs preferably terminate in springclips, as shown. Between the springs and supported in said clips is placed our circuitcontroller 9, which is of such shape and size as to catch any drops of water that may fall from the sprinklers. When used in connection with closed-circnit systems, which is the preferred arrangement, this circuit-controller is or may be of conducting material, and the circuit may pass through it.

Pnlverized sulphate of iron, pyrite of iron, or ordinary stove-blacking molded or formed into blocks or strips of proper size and shape is found well suited for our purpose, since a drop or two ot' water on such strip so dissolves or softens the material that it gives away and opens the circuit. To give sufticient conductivity we may incorporate black oxide of iron or other conductingpowder in the strip. In this arrangement the springs 3 i have a tension away from the sprinkler; but the tension is insufficient to pull the spring-clips from the strip 9. The same material may be used in connection with an open circuitbyinsulating the line from the strip Q- for example, by placing paper between 9 and one of the spring-clips which holds it and givin the springs a tension toward the sprinkler. Upon the giving away of 9 the circuit can then be closed bycontact being made between springs and a or between spring 3 and the body of the sprinkler.

The circuit-controller, instead oi' being of a conducting material, may be of insulating material, such as paper, which is su'lticiently stilf to hold. the circuit-terminals when dry, but readily yields when softened by water, as above described.

In certain cases it may bc desirable to apply a slight force to the circuit-controller to throw it out of line when it becomes weakened by moisture. This may be done, for example, by-making the upper spring of the clip longer than the lower one and causing it to press down on the controller, as shown at 10; but ordinarily the weight ofthe device itself would be suflicient.

The operation of this device is clear, viz: If the sprinkler gives away suddenly in the ordinary manner, the circuit controller is broken by the weight of the sprinkler and water and gives an alarm; but if a slight leak occurs, so small as to be hardly noticeable, and a drop or two falls onto and dissolves or softens the circuit-controller, the circuit is changed, as above described, rendering the alarm at the oflice or other locality or operating any other desired electrical device.

Evidently this circuit-controller may be used in any place where danger of leakage exists, and its utility is not coniined to the application above described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is l. A circuit-controller of a conducting material which is dissolved or softened by Water, in combination with circuit terminals electrically connected thereby, substantially as described.

2. A circuit-controller of sulphate of iron tween the terminals and holding them to maintain the normal condition of the circuit, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a sprinkler, of springs mounted thereon,one being insulated from the body of the sprinkler, and a circuitcontroller held below the sprinkler by said springs, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a sprinkler with springs or arms mounted thereon, one being insulated from the body of the sprinkler, clips at the outer end of said springs or arms, and a circuit-controller held in said clips below the sprinkler, substantially as described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 11th day of October, 1890.

CHARLES M. VOOLCOTT. ALBERT E. VILMO'I.

Witnesses:

CHARLES M. CATLIN, E. LOURAN. 

